neamhnaid
feminine
The Gaelic word for pearl is neamhnaid.
neamhnaid refers to the rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks.
Meaning: rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word neamhnaid is a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- In Gaelic folklore, pearls were sometimes linked to the sidhe or fairy folk, who were believed to possess treasures that could vanish if touched by a mortal.
- Due to the gendered nature of the language, the word 'pearl' can change its initial sound depending on the word that comes before it, such as the definite article.
- The 'h' in the middle of neamhnaid is not just a silent letter but a marker of 'lenition', which actually softens the sound of the preceding consonant.
Examples in context
- Chan eil mi cinnteach càit a bheil am peàrlag a-nis.I'm not sure where the pearl is now.
Example conversation
Mairead shows Finlay a piece of jewelry.
- MaireadSeo neamhnaid go hálainn, a Finlay.This is a beautiful pearl, Finlay.
- FinlayCá bhfuil tú ag fáil an chórneáin sin?Where did you get that necklace?
- MaireadBhí neamhnaid uaine ann nuair a cheanaigh mé é.There was a green pearl in it when I bought it.
- FinlayIs é an t-uileádh is fearr é.It is the best choice.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pearl” translations and entries neamhnaid, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
